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Measure Y

Measure Y — the Violence Prevention and Public Safety Act of 2004 went from 2004 to 2014 and was replaced by the Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Act of 2014 (Measure Z). Measure Y was a comprehensive and multifaceted effort weaving together social services, nonprofits, police, employment, schools, criminal justice, faith-based agencies and community members at the neighborhood level. The lessons learned from Measure Y have been used to create stronger networks under Measure Z to address the complex and multiple risk factors associated with violence: poverty, unemployment, discrimination, substance abuse, educational failure, fragmented families and domestic abuse. Measure Y had an Oversight Committee who met regularly to review performance and financial information related to Measure Y. You can find information about their meetings online through the Oakland Unite website here: Find out more about Measure Y.

Overview of Measure Y

Passed by Oakland voters on November 2, 2004. By the last year of Measure Y, it provided approximately $22 million annually to fund violence prevention programs, additional police officers, and fire services. Measure Y funds were generated through a new parcel tax along with a parking surcharge in commercial lots. Measure Y expired in December 2014. The funding structure of Measure Y was as follows:

Fire Safety – $4 million annually. Measure Y funding eliminated Fire Department rotating station closures so that all fires stations could be open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Violence Prevention Programs – 40% of remaining Measure Y revenue. Violence prevention programs administered through the Oakland Human Services Department were designed to work together with community policing to provide a continuum of support for high risk youth and young adults.

Police Services – 60% of remaining Measure Y revenue . Measure Y enhanced Oakland’s Community Policing program by adding new Problem Solving Officers to the Oakland Police Department ranks, as well as additional officers for truancy enforcement, domestic violence, and special victims units.